COSTER (Germaine Marguerite de). Buffon. Preface letter from Georges Duhamel. S.l., [1951]. - In-folio, 440 x 310: 101 pp., (5 ff. last blank), silent cover. Black box, back and flats crossed by a wide band of dyed snakeskin, title and artist's name in cold and grey letters on the first flat, smooth back, grey suede linings and guards, golden head, untrimmed, cover and back preserved, black box shirt with black back and overlapping bands , case (M. J. Guian-Milliaud - C. Ribal). Superb edition of these fragments of Buffon's Natural History, taken from the Furne edition of 1839, chosen by Germaine de COSTER (1895-1992) who illustrated them with 30 compositions engraved on woodwind and printed in Indian ink , 3 of which are full-page and 27 in the text. Unique edition of 115 copies on pearly japanese, signed by Germaine de Coster. This one is one of the 86 numbered from 19 to 104, and is exceptionally decorated with the following pieces :- proofs in first state on thin japanese and in state with coloured background on pearly japanese of the parrot figure. The second is signed by the artist and dedicated to Mr. D. Zierer. - One of the 16 proofs on japanese of the engraving of a lobster , numbered and signed by the artist. - Complete suite, perhaps unique, justified by the artist: "Special print for Monsieur D. Zierer on Toschi de Formose". - Vellum proofs of the title and pages 17 to 20 - Japanese print of an unrestrained wood , signed in blue on the reverse. - Proof before the letter on pearly japanese of 2 engravings of the book. - 2 original drawings in wash on japanese, signed by Germaine de Coster, the first one dedicated to D. Zierer and dated January 3, 1957 - 3 illustrations on vellum from Picasso's Buffon, under a shirt with this note in red: "Animals of Monsieur Picasso and Germa